Egg-crate



(No Model.)

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awww/woz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. KING, OF I-IESTER MILLS, TENNESSEE.

EGG-C RATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 466,691, dated January 5, 18192. Application iiledrAugust 14, 1891. Serial No. 402,653. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. KING, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Hester Mills, in the county of Meigs and State of Tennessee,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Egg-Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to packing and storing vessels and particularly to the class of crates.

The object of the invention is to provide a box or vessel for transporting eggs by packing them in cells formed in a series of crates contained in said box or vessel..

A further object of the invention is to construct a containing-box for the crates with a solid top and bottom, the ends being partially open and sides entirely open.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this speciiication, Figure l is a perspective View of the box with the crates containing eggs secured in the box ready for shipment. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View thereof, taken on the line 0c :r of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detached sectional View of one of the crates; and Fig. 4 is a modification, one of my trays having coil-wire supports.

The same letters of reference denote the same parts throughout the figures.

The top A and bottom B of the box are made solid, While the ends a have a central diamond-shaped cutout b. The rear side is left open, except for two narrow strips O, extending from the bottom B to the top A, against which the crates D abut when they are pushed into the box from the front.

The ends a have upon their front edge slots c, through which extends a locking-bar E, running lengthwise the box from end to end. This bar E has one of its ends bent at right angles, so as to forni a straight piece e, which is held fast against one end of the box by a thumb-latch or button (Z. The slots c are covered by a strip F for the purpose of holding the barE securely therein. The top and bottom are also provided with like slots f, which receive the cross-bars G, the slots having a covering-strip g and the top of the box a pair of buttons H to engage the angle portions G of the bars G. By this construction the crates D are firmly and securely held in the box Without a closed back and front or the ex pense of hinged doors or lids.

The crates D are constructed so as to just fit inside the box and are provided with a tray or main support I, having apertures i. From this tray I, extending upward, is a deep ange K, and extending downward from said tray is a similar flange k about one-half the depth of the said flange K. Upon the top of the iiange K rests a retaining-tray L, having small aperturesZ to hold the eggs down in the apertures. This tray L is entirely separate from and independent of the box and crates D.

It will be observed that when the several crates are in position in the box, the box Will present substantially a solid front, back, and ends.

In the modification the coil-wire is used. In place of setting the eggs into the apertures, they are placed in the nests formed by the coiled wire. This form is particularly useful in transporting eggs in large boxes, where the sizes of the eggs differ to a great extent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination,with the egg-crate casing, of the sliding trays, the locking-bar E, running lengthwise the trays, and the locking-bars G, extending across the trays and overlapping the bar E, and means for holding the bars in the said position, so as to lock the trays Within the casing, substantially as shown andl described.

2. `The combination,with the skeleton box or casing, of lthe sliding trays having egg-cells, and the trays L, located between the sliding trays, with the lockingbars having the anglepieces, and the buttons d and H, secured to the casing so as to engage the said angle-pieces, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In Witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS J. KING.

fitnessesz NV. T. FISHER, l-I. H. AorxIssoN. 

